Coast Guard suspends its search for a missing deckhand on Lower Mississippi River

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing towboat deckhand near Osceola, Arkansas, Wednesday April 8, 2015.

Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River watchstanders received a report, at 3:53 a.m., Tuesday that a deckhand reportedly fell overboard from the towing vessel Joe Ellis into the Mississippi River at the Mid River Terminal dock around mile marker 782.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends,” Capt. Timothy Wendt, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River. “It’s always difficult to end an active search for individuals in the water, but the Coast Guard is suspending its search pending further developments.”